Double podium keeps Vaxiviere in championship battle

Matthieu Vaxiviere left the Circuito de Jerez with a pair of third places, but it could have been a much different outcome had cold brakes not caused him to make a mistake at the chicane whilst leading Saturday’s opening race.

The SMP Racing driver fell behind team-mate Matevos Isaakyan and SMP Racing-backed Egor Orudzhev as a result, and although he was happy to be a part of history with all three SMP-backed drivers standing on the podium, he knows it could have been even better for the Frenchman.

“On one hand I’m really happy we’ve written a piece of history for SMP Racing as they locked out the podium with three cars,” said Vaxiviere on formulav8.com. “I’m proud of Matevos and the team which made a great job for the whole week-end.

“As we’re new in the championship, every week-end has something new for us, so I’m happy we move forward every time. On the other hand, I did a mistake at the restart with the rear brakes that were too cold, but I still got some good points. Maybe I’m not happy for my personal result, but we got a valuable podium finish”.

Vaxiviere matched his third place in race two on Sunday, but in much different circumstances, finishing well adrift of the top two Orudzhev and Louis Deletraz, and although twenty-five points adrift of the latter in the championship, still has championship ambitions heading into the season finale at the Circuit de Catalunya.

“I didn’t have the best start of my life, I think there was something with the clutch but we still have to investigate the matter,” said Vaxiviere. “I felt no traction on the rear, and the pace was not amazing for us as well.

“I’m really happy about P3 as we couldn’t do much better today, the strategy was quite good, as we planned to pit early. Let’s see how things will go in Barcelona, but I still regret yesterday’s mistake”.